Japanese operator SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation has chosen Arianespace to launch its new JCSAT-13 communications satellite. This new contract is the 7th contract signed in 2009 by Arianespace with the major satellite operators.
Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace, and Masanori Akiyama, President and CEO of SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation, today signed the launch Service & Solutions contract for the JCSAT-13 satellite.
27th Japanese contract for Arianespace
The JCSAT-13 contract is the 27th that Arianespace has won in Japan out of 36 commercial contracts open to competition.
JCSAT-13 will be launched by an Ariane 5 in 2013 from the Guiana Space Centre, Europe’s Spaceport, French Guiana.
Built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems in Newtown, Pennsylvania, it will weigh about 4,500 kg at launch and has a design life of 15 years. JCSAT-13 will provide broadcasting/telecommunications services for Japan and the Asia-Pacific region in general.
A very prestigious client
Arianespace has built a relationship of mutual trust with SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation, the leading private Japanese satellite operator, since 1989. JCSAT-13 is the 17th satellite launch contract that Arianespace has won from this operator since the launch of JCSAT-1.
Arianespace Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jean-Yves Le Gall said: “We are very proud and very honoured to once again serve the leading satellite operator in Asia-Pacific. We would like to thank SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation for their loyalty over the last 20 years. This new contract, the 7th signed in 2009 with a major satellite operator, is an expression of confidence and clear recognition of the quality of Arianespace’s launch Service & Solutions.”
About Arianespace
Arianespace is the world’s leading launch Service & Solutions company, delivering innovative offer to its customers since 1980. Backed by its 23 shareholders and the European Space Agency, Arianespace proposes an unrivalled launcher family, comprising Ariane 5, Soyuz and Vega, and an international workforce renowned for their culture of commitment and excellence. As of 01 April 2009, Arianespace had launched a total of 267 payloads, including more than half of all the commercial satellites now in service worldwide. It has a backlog of more than 20 Ariane 5 and 10 Soyuz launches, equal to 3 years of business. www.arianespace.com
